Woody Herman: Woodchopper's Ball

Thanks to his first two Herds (1945-'48), Woody Herman's place in jazz history rests secure. His biggest hit, however, was the simple prewar blues riff "Woodchopper's Ball." As clarinetist, Woody wasn't in the same league as his rivals Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. But Herman's bands had more bounce, buoyancy and brashness than his competitors combined. Here, Woody solos first, followed by trombonist Reid; then two fabulously Runyonesque characters named Saxie Mansfield and Steady Nelson hold sway. "Woodchopper's Ball" gives no hint of the phenomenal Herds on Woody's horizon, but it's a surefire toe-tapper and heartily representative of big-band swing.